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The
Performance Animal
For performance animals, chiropractic
is essential. Keeping the animals spine and all joints in biomechanical
balance will enhances the animal’s performance as well as minimize injuries.
There are four basic elements of an animals condition that effect
performance: pain, fatigue, depressed drive, and poor health.
Performance owners know the value of optimum health in their animal. A
healthy, well conditioned animal will have no problem with fatigue or drive.
Pain is the variable that is the most common cause of poor performance.A minor injury causing pain to a front leg creates an altered movement
(lameness) in that leg, and the opposite hip and rear leg. The spine is the
conduit through which the alteration is transferred, and involves the many
small joints of the spine. |
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The above example can occur in either direction: front lameness effecting
opposite rear hip and leg, and rear lameness effecting the opposite shoulder
and front leg. All mediated through the spine.
Your animal chiropractor can alleviate pain by adjusting your animal. This
will increase performance by reestablishing the biomechanical balance of all
the joints affected from an injury.
To keep a performance animal performing at an optimal level, it is of utmost
importance to keep biomechanical balance of all joints. This allows for
maximum coordination, balance, speed, and performance. To achieve this, the
animal should be adjusted on a regular basis by an animal chiropractor
Gait
Analysis
Dogs and horses have the ability to alter their gait to adapt to pain and
injury. This helps them minimize the pain and allows continued movement.
This slight alteration (compensation) is sometimes difficult to detect
without expertise.
Evaluating an animals gait will detect these small changes in movement. When
your animal has regular visits to the Chiropractor, the animal’s movement
will be evaluated, and changes will be recognized.
The gait should be analyzed from front, back, left and right sides, and in
circles going both clockwise and counter clockwise. The animal should be
symmetrical in both position and movement. The movement should be fluid and
equally balanced. Gait analysis is best done in a symmetrical gait-walk or
trot.
By watching your animal move, your animal Chiropractor will determine which
areas need to adjusted.
Vet
Advisory: Animal chiropractic is in no way a substitute for
regular veterinary care. Your animal Chiropractor works only by referral
from your Vet to ensure the best possible care for your animal. For more information on animal Chiropractic contact
the Animal Veterinary Chiropractic Association,
www.animalchiropractic.org |
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